Greens raise doubts about the metro project in Kochi

KOCHI: Even as KMRL goes ahead with the Water Metro project and development of rural regions, residents on the islands are wary about its success.

Though boat services were once the major mode of transportation, the islanders shifted to road transport after construction of roads and bridges.

Jayaram, a resident of Mu lavukad said, “Earlier, it took 25 minutes for a boat to reach high court from Mulavukad panchayat jetty . Why would anyone take the boat when they have two-wheelers, which can take them to the city much faster?“ The islanders clearly do not want their livelihood to be affected because of large-scale construction activities. There are about 3-4 lakh people living on the islands identified for the project.

“Their main occupation is farming and fishing. People will not support any project that would affect their livelihood,“ said Mulavukadu panchayat president Viji Shajan.

More than 40% of the land in these islands are either wa ter bodies, paddy lands, wet lands or covered by mangroves. “It is to be seen how KMRL and local bodies would circumvent the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms. Most of these regions are ecologicallysensitive, and it would not be possible to have large-scale construction activities. Developing commercial spaces would be difficult,“ said environmentalist Harish Vasudevan.

However, KMRL managing director Elias George said they would hold talks with the Kerala Coastal Management Authority (KCZMA) to discuss the development works that could be undertaken on the islands as well as other regions lying along the backwaters without violating CRZ norms.